Lecture: wild bees

Pieter van Breugel will give a lecture on wild bees at IVN Laarbeek. This lecture will be held in the IVN building De Bimd.

In the Netherlands, besides the well-known honey bee, there are more than three hundred species of bees. They are called wild bees because they are indigenous here, i.e. they occur ‘in the wild’. The more than 20 species of bumblebees are also counted among the wild bees. They form colonies with many animals in one nest. However, most native bees do everything alone and are therefore called solitary bees. Because they do not sting and are therefore not troublesome, they are unknown. Many of these species specialise on certain plants and are highly threatened by man's negative impact on the flora. The species are often named according to their appearance or behaviour. Among the species you can find are sand bees, cuckoo bees, mason bees, mask bees, wallpaper bees, woolly bees, blood bees and silk bees.

Pieter van Breugel from Veghel has been studying these animals and providing nesting opportunities for years and is the author of several books on wild bees. Drawing on his own experience and using truly unique recordings, he conjures up a wonderful insect world that will immediately tempt you to take a closer look in your own environment. His enthusiastic story will make you go home inspired and richer, knowing that in your immediate surroundings too, little jewels of animals lead a wonderful life. It pays off, so really worth coming!